Chapter One

The moon shined over the the oak forest, and the orange and yellow leaves sprinkled over the treetops. Sticking out like a sore thumb in the peaceful forest, Sebastian Michaelis waited almost impatiently for Grell Sutcliff, the grim reaper who requested to meet him there that night.

He did not want to be mistaken by his demeanor. He loved her more than anyone he had ever known in his long, demonic life. In fact, she was the only being who had ever made him feel such passion.

However, since Sebastian's young master, Ciel Phantomhive, had become a demon, but still had to remain with Sebastian due to their contract, he had wanted to keep his visits with the reaper to a minimum. He knew that Ciel had despised Grell for killing his beloved aunt, Madame Red, and had assumed that he would order Sebastian to kill the reaper, had he seen them together. After all, he had done it before. Therefore, the older demon wanted to stay away from her most of the time for the sake of both of them. This was also why the black-clad butler always acted repulsed with the crimson-covered killer and denied her affections in public.

Eventually, the red reaper walked through came into Sebastian's view, holding a bundle in her arms, and she smiled with joy dancing in her eyes.

"Hello again, Grell." Sebastian said. "I trust that this is important, given our understanding that we must keep our meetings to a minimum unless it is such?"

"Of course it's important, Bassy. Would I ask you to come to this forest so far away at an hour so late if it was just to say hello?" she asked, rhetorically.

"Yes." Sebastian answered.

"I think not, given that reapers actually need sleep, unlike demons. You worry far too much about our secret little meetings, you know."

She tapped the tip of Sebastian's nose, and he held her hand.

"No, I do not. I worry about what my master may do upon finding out about our so-called "secret little meetings", as you call them." his voice softened. "You understand we need to act as enemies and stay apart for both of our sakes, yes?"

"Yes, I do understand that, Darling," Grell said, looking into the demon's eyes with a sudden tone of seriousness. "but is it for all three of our sakes?"

The demon widened his eyes slightly as humongous, dark clouds blocked out the moon.

"What are you saying, Grell?" he asked. "What in the world do you mean by saying there are "three" of us? Do you meant to imply that that bundle in your arms is-"

"Yes, I do mean to imply that." she said, much more serious than before. "To answer your first question, I'm saying that the intimate night together that the bratty earl gave us for me protecting him during that mission where all those little girls were turned into dolls, and what happened between us upon that night, is not quite over yet."

"I do believe that birth is biologically impossible for your body, Grell." Sebastian said. "Is that not why you murdered all of those prostitutes with Madame Red during the "Jack the Ripper" incident?"

"I also thought bearing a child was out of my ability until just a few days ago. Ronald and I were collecting souls in Blackcloud Alley, and suddenly I fainted right when a man was on death's doorstep. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the hospital. The doctors said that reaper biology was very different from any other species, especially when it came to reproduction. Of course, I obviously didn't know that when I killed all those broads with Madame Red. They also said that, apparently, my case and my operation were the least "abnormal" they had that week. Since they said that they had to cut the little one out of my body, I suppose that God only knows how "abnormal" the others were." Grell explained, looking down at the bundle in her arms. "Then, they handed me this little bundle of miracles. She was unexpected, but not unwanted."

"I still can't bring myself to believe that this is our child." Sebastian sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. "Those doctors could have been lying, or they could have made a mistake."

"See for yourself, Bassy." she said. "I highly doubt that there's been any sort of slip up."

"Very well." he said, before looking down at the baby that was bundled in blankets.

The infant was quite small and fragile, and couldn't possibly have been more than three days old. When she opened her tiny eyes, Sebastian could see that they were in no way ordinary. Her left eye was the common reaper eye color of yellow on the outer iris, and green on the inner iris, so there wasn't a shock there. The shock occurred for Sebastian when he looked at her right eye, because it was crimson red, exactly like his own. Sebastian didn't need anymore convincing. He still didn't fully understand how this happened, but he believed Grell.

"Grell, I'm sorry," he said, stroking her cheek. "but our agreement to stay separate unless it's an emergency or an otherwise important event will not be broken. I wish you the best of luck in raising this child, because it seems like you will need it."

Grell's face fell into a frown, losing all the passion and joy that shined upon it seconds before.

"I see." she said, hanging her head low.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

"Yes." she whispered.

Before Sebastian could turn around completely, Grell gently turned him back around before punching him right in the face as thunder exploded throughout the sky.

"I understand that you can look your baby daughter in the eyes and still tell her and me that you won't be there for either of us, and you'll keep hiding behind that bratty earl just like you always have!" Grell yelled, baring her shark-like teeth.

"Grell, listen. I-"

"Why the bloody hell should I listen to you?" she asked, yelling. "When I found out that the daughter I didn't know I even made was born, one of my first thoughts was that you should be made aware! So as soon as I could, I jumped across every rooftop, and ran past every tree that kept me from doing that, only to be told that you would barely even acknowledge it!"

"Grell, please," Sebastian said. "don't make this so-"

"Don't make it so what? So true? So accurate? You looked at your baby daughter for the first time and you have the nerve to say that you'll just continue to stay away unless it's important! What if it's her birthday? Do I need to write a letter to you a week in advance saying, "It's our daughter's birthday. Is that important enough to see you?" Well, is it? What if she has something going on with her, like she comes out as liking other girls, or is actually a boy, or neither a boy or girl? Is that important enough for you? Well, you'll never be there for her first words, or her first steps, because I can't write to you in advance about that!"

The baby girl started to cry in response to both Grell's outburst and the raging thunder, and that was the only thing that stopped the raging red reaper. Her anger melted away as she comforted her crying daughter.

"Goodbye, Sebastian. Forget what we've agreed on about seeing us if it's important. Nothing is more important than being there for your family, but you can't even fulfill that." she said calmly, before turning her back and walking away. Then, she started running as fast as she could, as tears did the same on her face. The splashing in the puddles became more frequent by the minute, and her tears were indistinguishable with the pouring rain.

Once she got home, and was sure that the demon had not followed her, Grell dropped to her knees and took a long look at her daughter. She wanted to wait to name the baby until she had gotten Sebastian's input. However, given what had just happened, she didn't feel as if she needed to wait much longer.

"Don't worry, Mara." she said. "You'll never feel the pain that I felt tonight. As your mother, I promise you that."

"M-mama!" the baby said. Even though it was a bit early for first words, Grell was still overjoyed.

"Yes, and I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

~15 years later~

Mara's POV

I woke up to the usual feeling of being kissed by my family's small, white dog, Passion. She was the family dog, but she took a liking to me.

"You're like a walking morning alarm, aren't you?" I said, scratching behind her ear. Passion simply gave two high-pitched barks in response. Then, a smile spread across my face when I remembered what to look forward that day.

"My final exam is today!" I said to myself. I picked up my glasses, which were the standard for trainees of the class that I was in.

Of course, that means that they are colorless, dreadfully dull, and don't even accommodate for both of my eyes. I thought. I'll definitely get a new pair soon, after I pass this test. Then, I grabbed my death scythe, a forearm - long sickle, which was also standard for the trainees.

This is also too dull and boring for how great this exam is going to go, because this isn't some normal math or science test. Oh no, this is my final exam for my reaper training, and if I pass, I'm finally going to become a professional grim reaper!

I went to my closet to find my suit. Well, it wasn't my suit first. It was actually my mother's, but she didn't need it, nor did she want to be caught dead in "such dreary clothing" ever again, so she adjusted it so I could wear it for my exam.

Well, I actually enjoy this suit very much. I thought. Thank you so much, Mum.

She had also said that she had been paired with a gorgeous man named "Will" for her exam, so I hoped a little that, should we have still worked in pairs, that I may have worked with a good-looking boy. Although, I would have much preferred working with a good-looking girl.

The exam is what's important, Mara, I told myself. Not the good-looking person you may end up working with.

I picked up the outfit and got changed. Then, I grabbed my white, rectangular eyepatch that had two laces to tie at the top, two at the bottom, and small holes so air could somewhat get through it. Then, I went to the mirror to put it on and brush my hair.

"Now comes the part of the morning I hate,". I muttered, as I picked up the patch and looked at myself in the mirror, "because now I have to look at that." I focused my eyes on a spot on the mirror near the edge so I didn't have to look at my own eyes. One was green and yellow, as usual for grim reapers, and one was blood red like my father's. The latter was the one that I covered up that day, and every other day.

I tied the knots in the laces behind my head and put on my glasses. Then, remembering that those two combined was really an awful look, I just brushed my hair in front of my eyepatch and covered almost half my face with my raven black hair.

It may be a bit overkill, but it's better than possibly being killed over my genes.

I slipped on my shoes, which were the most professional pumps I possessed, and went down the stairs.

Well, I attempted to go down the stairs.

However, I had forgotten that I had not worn the type of shoes that I was wearing in quite a long time, so I soon fell down the stairs onto my face. Thankfully, I didn't feel anything get hurt, and my glasses were okay, so that was nice.

Well, at least I got down the stairs.

"Now, I know you're excited, but don't hurt yourself, Sweetie." I heard my mother's voice. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm alright, Mum." I said, standing up and brushing myself off. "I just haven't used shoes like that in a while."

"Good." she answered, relieved. "Are you ready for the exam?"

"Yep!" I answered. "I was memorizing the material for an hour last night."

"Do you remember the first rule of being a reaper?" she inquired.

"Of course, it's that you always have to wear your glasses." I answered.

"What is the second rule?"

"Take care of your scythe."

"Sixth?"

"When the fixed time comes, leave."

"That is impressive, Mara!" she said. "However, I'm still wondering why you're wearing this?" She pointed to my patch. "Doesn't it feel like you're just hiding yourself away?"

"It feels more like I'm covering up the reminder of the demon that bailed on us." I said, suddenly dropping my excitement from seconds before.

"Listen, Mara." my mother said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I know you're still mad at your father, but he helped bring you here, so at least he did one good thing, right?"

That's one of the things I'm mad about, actually.

"I guess so." I said, putting my smile back on, even though it was less authentic and enthusiastic than it was before. "I really don't think it's the best idea to go into the reaper exam with my demon eye out in the open. Other reapers aren't all that good with demons, and probably wouldn't go off shaking hands and talking about the weather with a half-demon. If they knew I was one, I don't have any reason to believe that they won't try to wipe me off the earth like dirt on a table."

"In any case, you aren't going anywhere on an empty stomach on my watch. Come on, I made breakfast!" she started to walk away, so I followed her. About fifteen minutes later, we were out the door.

"Come on, Mum, we'll be late!" I said, walking out the door, with her behind me.

"Relax. We still have twenty min-OW!" I turned and thought she had fallen or gotten an awful pain, but she had only gotten her hair stuck in the door. I walked back to the door and opened it up, thus freeing her crimson mane.

"You know, Mum," I said. "You could start tying your hair back in a ponytail."

"I don't believe a hair tie that is strong enough for my hair has been made yet, now come on!" she said, motioning with her hand for me to follow.

"Alright." I answered getting in the passenger seat next to her, before closing the door and fastening my seatbelt. My heart felt as if it was beating out of my chest, and my teeth were shaking like maracas as we got closer to the Grim Reaper Academy for Youth, which is more commonly referred to as the G.R.A.Y. This wasn't happening out of fear, but out of excitement and just a touch of nervousness.

Three years in training, and it's all led up to today.

Don't get too peppy. An intruding thought rang in my head. Remember what happened three years ago on this very-

No, no! I pushed the thought to the back of my head, where it belonged. I'm never reliving that.

After ten minutes, though it felt like an eternity, we came to a stop at the G.R.A.Y.

"Good luck on your exam, Mara!" my mother said. "You're going to do great. I know you will. Love you!" she opened her arms for a hug, and I gave her a quick one.

"Love you, too! I have to go." I started to open the door.

"Oh! Wait, Mara. I have something I want to give you." she lightly grabbed my wrist and brought out a bracelet, before slipping it on my wrist. It had red, yellow, green, and white beads and it had a long bead in the center of the others that said, "World's Best Reaper".

"This is beautiful, Mum." I said, smiling down at it.

"I just wanted you to know that I'll always be there and support you, no matter what." she said.

"Thank you so much, Mum. I'll tell you all about the exam when I get back! Love you!" I said, before opening the door and making my way over to the clear glass doors.

I took a deep breath before walking through the doors.